« intro ⇢ winterball.exe »

[poised]

Who: everyone, literally everyone
When: ooc: 04/25-04/26; ic: 12/26
Where: the Gardens
What: intro log + winter ball!
Rating/Warning: PG-13 | possibly nsfw (please let me know if you need this rating changed, or you are welcome to continue any naughty shenanigans in a private log)

//winterball.EXE Pimp My Party -- Royalty Style A few weeks prior to December 26th, an invitation went out to all whom already reside in Cerealia. In delicate, curling script, it read: You are cordially invited by Natalia L.K. Lanvaldear to a Winter Ball to be held on the Eve of December 26th in the Gardens. Dress in your best attire and enjoy a magical evening of dance and fine cuisine. What do you mean we should fuss about worlds being destroyed? Get into the holiday spirit, you scrooge! And in regards to the new-comers: whether you have been wandering Cerealia over the course of the past few days and managed to receive one of the later waves of invitations or have simply suddenly appeared in the gardens with nothing but the (hopefully…. appropriate….) clothes on your back, welcome. The gardens have been transformed through the work of slave labor condoned by royalty incredibly talented volunteers. A buffet line possibly a mile long, a sprawling dance floor with temporary wood placement to cover the grass, a lovely orchestra with scheduled interruptions of magic shows on the stage, and the entire thing lit gently with lights stretch the span of the main area of the garden. Not too far off, there are ponds and pathways that take you elsewhere into the foliage, but why would you go that way? The party’s right here! "Good evening, everyone!! Whether you are new to Tellus or old, I hope to find you in good spirits. Mind you, I do not intend to ignore the blunders of CERES nor the grave situation that new-comers have found themselves faced with. However I assure you that at this time, surrounded by these people, you are in good company. Please, dine and be merry - I believe some worlds celebrated a holiday yesterday! Get to know one another so we may strengthen our ties and stand firm against whatever this world may throw against us! Also try the salmon, it's absolutely divine. . . . How do I turn this off...? Should I just walk away?"

//SCENARIOS.EXE PHASE I [ xxxx ] Like any respectable ball, your entrance is announced as you walk right into the party! What do you mean you wanted to slip in unnoticed? That simply won’t do. Natalia managed to rope in someone – is that a Tellus native? – to do the honor of acknowledging your character as they make their debut to the ball. This guy is under strict orders to not miss a single soul. If your character doesn’t give him a name and title ahead of time, then he’ll just make something up. Think along the lines of Broseidon McSnootyname, Duke of Erectile Dysfunction-- What do you mean that’s not your name? PHASE II [ xxxx ] Absolutely no expense was spared when it came to making sure that the food here was the best that money could buy (or threats could extort). Guests can select from a menagerie of main dishes from all sorts of cultures, adorable desserts that look like woodland creatures alongside towering cakes, and even those fruity drinks with the little umbrellas on them. Pig out, you animals – but there’s also a wide selection of fine wine if your tastes and curiosities wander off in that direction…. What even is the drinking age in Tellus? Remember, folks, drink (ir)responsibly. PHASE III [ xxxx ] Well, it is a ball. If you’re interested in proper, classical styles of dance, there’s certainly an orchestra that’s dominating most of the night. One of their songs may or may not sound familiar. Spin around in your flurry of skirts and do the fairy tale thing if that’s what you came here for. Romance, or whatever. Waltz your heart out and don’t forget to point your toes! … that said, there’s also a separate sound system not too far, prepared in case the orchestra might want a break. It’s also not being watched too closely. Maybe put on something to liven up the dance floor? Or did someone ruin your fantasy by putting on something unbearably inappropriate? PHASE IV [ xxxx ] The gardens really are beautiful. Spread throughout the area and more toward the outskirts of the party, there are plenty of beautiful fountains with glittering, crystal clear water. In fact, it’s so clear that you can spot the occasional alien life form flitting through it amidst the lily pads and gently sweeping foliage. It’s so graceful, what beauty! Look at how it rises to the water and gently opens its mouth into a yawn and—tries to chomp anything within range right off with razor sharp teeth what the fuck, whatthefuck. It would appear that's not all, though. Whether you're ready to fight the creature or run screaming, you feel something slowly slide and curl around your arm or your ankle. Look on in horror as you turn your head and realize that it seems that the nearby tree has grown rather fond of you very quickly, to the extent that it will reach out and lovingly wrap its hentai tentacles around you.... Brings a whole 'nother meaning to 'tree hugger', doesn't it? BONUS [ whyo'clock ] Are you lost? Did you try to catch your breath away from the party and start to wander off despite all the cautioning not to? Or maybe you were trying to leave and took a wrong turn? Either way, you seem to have only found yourself deeper in the gardens now. Try not to breathe too deeply or… at all. If you can’t manage that though, it appears that you’ve stumbled upon the hallucinogenic plants of the garden. You start to see things that aren’t there – though whether you suddenly find yourself in a den of cougars lions or think that the person standing next to you is the biggest, cuddliest pile of adorable puppies in the world depends on the person. Hope you have a good trip, bruh. [ Remember to apply proper warnings on threads with trigger-y or inappropriate material and do let me know (through FAQ comment or PM preferably!) if your thread careens off into maiming or canoodling so I can lock the log. ]

//RUN.EXE Welcome to CEREALIA's latest intro post! This one is player-run and all the basics have been laid out for you here. Absolutely feel free to come up with your own prompts, I just attempted to set the scenery! For your convenience, I whole-heartedly welcome questions and inquiries being directed to my attention here and I'll answer them to the best of my ability! Have a ball! Enjoy!! OVERFLOW IS HERE Move over at your captcha-free leisure!

Comments

[psycholawgy]

[ Maybe YOU'RE not human. ]

Bust a move, Mr. Wright!

[codere]

How else was I supposed to get your attention? [ Greeting people seems so... normal, and she's anything but! ]

You didn't get hurt so it's perfectly fine.

[unmended]

I guess you could say that. [Ah, finally he can breathe again. He flips the gun in his hand for a moment. Partly for show, partly because he just likes doing that.]

Rin, huh? We'll see if you reputation follows you.

[bewrightback]

[I'm not.]

What am I busting now? I only bust criminals...

[codere]

I know. [ Not from him, of course. ]

Uzumaki told me.

I confided a little in him and in return, I found out that we're fairly similar. At our age, we should be visiting arcades and trying to ditch school... not fighting in a war. It's terrible.

[codere]

Oh that place looked pretty crowded. Do you think someone did something to one of the desserts or drinks? Archer will be angry if he finds out.

[ Totally not answering the terrorist thing. ]

[beaconed]

Me too. [ He has to believe it, otherwise what is all of this for? But this is a night about fun, there will be lots to discuss tomorrow with Ruby's reappearance and his own plot to sneak into the Research Lab.

In the meantime, once they're in the center of the floor, because that's where JNPR belongs damnit, he offers her his hand to take. It's not so different from their night at Beacon, except the song and dance appears to be a more slower, intimate one, not unlike at a prom. ]

Miss Nikos, shall we?

[codere]

Even if it does, I don't really care. [ Gotta put up that tough girl act. ]

There's a shooting range here you can practice at. I'm not sure if their targets can withstand lasers, but there's one way to find out.

[adornmental]

[Maybe try being a flower whisperer in the next life instead of a battle princess, gosh!!

But he'll just nod a couple of times at that, clearly in approval. Pretty things always deserve compliments and kind words! As for the question:]

Yeah! It's been a lot of fun. A nice break from all that gloomy stuff, right?

no one can stop him he's on a... roll, if u will

[adornmental]

[WHAT KIND OF PARTY DOES HE THINK THIS IS--

But oops, yes, please guide him away from the scene of the crime before he ends up either getting himself recruited to Cerealia's lawn maintenance team or gets them blacklisted from parties forever.]

Oh— [A little noise of surprise first, when his arm is grabbed. ...IT'S HORIKAWA. Much nicer than a hentai plant. He can tell when Horikawa's doing that "trying to prevent a scene (from getting worse)" thing too, so he doesn't put up any fuss over the suggestion.]

—Yeah, okay. [A dirty look for the hentai tree, and then he's turning to stride away, sheathing his sword.] But can you even believe that?

ii

[hagureoni]

[This seemed to be a somewhat common opinion about the desserts. Perhaps it was really a trick to get people not to eat them?

Anyways, hearing another person saying that kind of annoyed him.]

Close your eyes and eat them.

[shacklebreaker]

I should have guessed you'd be in charge of catering... Some sake would do nicely, thank you.

[He accepts the food gratefully, whistling Taka over from where the hawk had taken refuge in a nearby tree to feed him the meat. The bird doesn't want to stay around the large crowds for long periods of time, but food persuades him to come down, at least.]

[adornmental]

[He'll do it, okay. He'll do it. In fact, the one reason Kashuu pauses in his consideration of this plan is definitely not the reason he should be pausing.]

Probably, but where'd we put it? The bathtub? We'd have to get it there super fast too so it wouldn't die.

[psycholawgy]

[ She can't help but question Rin's way of thinking... ]

You could have tapped me, or I don't know, say hello like a normal person would?

[adornmental]

[Persistence would be his middle name if he had one... or maybe desperate.

But his answer definitely comes quickly and without pause. It's super wise and very poignant.]

It's fun when everyone's watching you! [hAHA-- okay but really:]

Besides, I love training. Keeping up with your partner, matching their moves, improving your steps, watching so you know where to go... It's super exciting, right?

[He's definitely got a sword with him too, like every other sword person running amok in the party, so it's obvious what type of training he's talking about.]

Dancing isn't really different. It's all about mastery of the body and its motion, yeah? And if you have a body to move at all, it's lame to waste it.

adds mine to the same dustpan

[adornmental]

[The damage may be hard to repair, but Kashuu is soothed somewhat easily, at least. It's never taken much to please him (which is a good thing, considering how many times in any given day he needs to be mollified), and having Souji's arms around him help him to banish his negativity, if only for the moment. How strange it is, to be held like a human by the same person who had held him as a sword for so long (for nowhere near long enough). He can feel the hand against his back and hear the apologies, which he'll have to refute once he has control over himself again. For now, he's sick with a stuttering grief, and it's all he can do to cling like Souji is the lifeline to his small boat out at sea.

He's certainly not keeping an eye on the time, but it feels like literal hours before he manages to go from biting his lip for the sake of silence and only having soft, shuddering breaths left. Couldn't have been more than a minute, really, but he's already exhausted, and he doesn't particularly feel like pulling away. His face is likely a mess - who would want to be seen like that after being told they were beautiful?

So he just holds on, quiet as can be, for a little longer. That should be fine, right? Just long enough for him to catch his breath and at least try to sound a little better off than he feels. A joke, maybe? Something to help him catch his balance and to try shrugging the hurt off with. A watery-sounding laugh, and then:]

You can't just follow up a compliment with an apology like that.

[But it's no good. He'll have to speak very softly, or risk his voice cracking. His gaze remains averted, downcast, and small trembles wrack his frame, but he's trying to be presentable.]

[psycholawgy]

Bust a move! Who knows when you have to shake some tail feather in court!

[ YOU KNOW IT'S BOUND TO HAPPEN AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE!!!! ]

[codere]

I could have, but then I'd be normal! [ As if that's a problem.

In fact, all Rin has ever wanted to be in her life was normal. Why this sudden change of heart?! ]

Who wants to be normal at a ball like this? Flashy and extravagant poses are all the rage!

[psycholawgy]

Then, then...! [ SHE ISN'T GOING TO LOSE THIS ARGUMENT. ] You should have twirled and then called my name in a sing-song tone!

[souredsweet]

[wh-- WHY... This is definitely the most animated person of everyone that he's met that remembers him?! But the "third time" just has him looking confused.]

I beg your pardon?

ii

[sheathwife]

[ YO... For someone who looks so cute and fragile (I'm sorry...), that sure is an appetite. Horikawa can't help but be reminded of a certain sword friend of his. He's not in the room to question it though, because what does he know, right! He's still figuring out most human habits and traits...

So he politely acknowledges the request, nodding so properly. ]

Oh, of course! Please wait a moment.

[ Souji asked the right sword. Horikawa is one of the more household-capable ones, so he's able to neatly cut and pick up a slice without ruining anything. As he carries the cake over to the other's plate, he gently turns. Should Souji glance down to the wakizashi's belt, he'll be able to notice (possibly) a frighteningly familiar short sword... ]

[souredsweet]

[WELL GOSH why would Kaoru have any reason to believe this person is anyone but a very helpful civilian?? It definitely wouldn't be his luck to run into the actual embodiment of a Shinsengumi sword! He even gets a polite bow in return, since they're being all proper and doing proper greetings here.]

That would make sense, I suppose... Though I can't possibly imagine that anyone here would want to cool down. [A stare toward the window... It feels like its been frigid for a thousand years. Does summer ever come in Cerealia?? MYSTERIES.]

Thank you for sharing your thoughts, regardless.

[niceguypose]

Naruto-kun... [He closes his eyes softly and balls his fists.]

You are right, Rin-san. I have tried very hard to uphold my duty, but this is not the ideal way to spend one's youth! As selfish as it is... I do wish I could have experienced more by now. Such as... dances like this one! [He nudges back towards the ball.]

So I like to be thankful for every kindness I receive!

[souredsweet]

[Wallflower alliance... Why is it that all of the wallflowers at this ball are either shitheads or blunt and gruff linefaces thought??

But Kaoru glances over at that with a polite smile.]

Ah— [And the polite smile falters for like .5 seconds GIVING HIS OUTFIT A LOOK... And then glancing back up at his face again, because it's rude to judge someone by their kimono or something but still. This guy looks like he could be from the same time period! What kind of weird statement is that...]

Are such songs popular where you come from...?

[Maybe he just makes a habit of visiting weird clubs in Cerealia.]

[souredsweet]

["DIGNIFIED".

Kaoru will return the curtsey with a gentle bow though, because this dress is a floofy mess and curtseying is A Mystery.]

It's very grand. I've yet to sample any myself, but if it's the chef from your cafe, then I'm certain that it will taste just as wonderful as everything else.